Six Moro terrorists surrender in Mindanao

They were members of the Karialan and Bungos factions of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters terror group.

Six members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters terror group surrender to the Philippine military in North Cotabato province on Apr 21, 2023. (Westmincom pic)

NORTH COTABATO: Six members of two terror factions including one aligned with Daesh surrendered to the Philippine military in the southern province of North Cotabato on Friday, the day before Eid al-Fitri or feast after Ramadan.    

The Joint Task Force Central Commander, Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, identified the surrendered personalities as members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) - Karialan and Bungos factions, said the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) in a statement Saturday. 

"They submitted themselves to Brig. Gen. Donald Gumiran, Commander of the 602nd Infantry Brigade, at the 34th Infantry Battalion (34IB) headquarters in Salunayan village, Midsayap, North Cotabato. Their identities were not disclosed for security reasons," said Westmincom. 

The former violent extremists handed over their high-powered firearms and assorted ammunition to the military, including two 7.62mm sniper rifles, one 7.62mm rifle, one .30 calibre Garand rifle, one M79 grenade launcher, and one M14 Springfield rifle. 

Gumiran attributed the six ex-BIFF combatants’ surrender to the joint efforts of the intelligence units, the 34IB and the 6th Civil-Military Operations Battalion. 

The surrendered personalities were formally presented to Midsayap Mayor Rolly Sacdalan and are currently undergoing custodial debriefing facilitated by the 34IB.  

Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, the Westmincom commander, commended the former violent extremists for making the right decision. 

“Rest assured that we will immediately process their enrollment in the government’s reintegration programme," he said. 

Galido lauded the Joint Task Force Central for their steadfast resolve to end terrorism in central Mindanao. 

He also expressed his appreciation to organisations and people for their unwavering support to the military’s peace campaign in Mindanao.

The BIFF is an offshoot of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) after the MILF accepted a peace deal with the government in 2008. 

The Bungos faction has announced support to Daesh while Karialan shunned the Middle Eastern terror group's ideology.